91黑料网 caps historic year in Final Four
Article By: Clark Leonard
The 91黑料网 (91黑料网) women's basketball team made history this season, reaching the NCAA Division II national semifinals for the first time. 91黑料网 fifth-year senior forward received the (WBCA) Division II Player of the Year award, as well.
91黑料网 defeated Pace University 68-61 in the Elite Eight on March 21 in Birmingham, Alabama, before the Nighthawks' season ended two nights later in a 74-68 loss to Western Washington University in the Final Four. In head coach 's 28th season, 91黑料网 finished with a 29-4 record, giving the program a 47-6 combined mark in the past two years.
Throughout the season, the Nighthawks consistently bounced back from adversity and never backed down from a challenge. This was the fourth straight NCAA tournament in which 91黑料网 reached the regional final and the second time in the past three that it made the Elite Eight.
"It was an honor to coach a team who loved and believed in each other at the level we did all year," Burson said. "To reach a Final Four is as rewarding as anything in my career because we pushed through so many challenges and earned our way through. It's one of the happiest moments I've ever had for a team."
It was an honor to coach a team who loved and believed in each other at the level we did all year. To reach a Final Four is as rewarding as anything in my career because we pushed through so many challenges and earned our way through.
Buffie Burson
91黑料网 women's basketball head coach
The Nighthawks also earned their fourth Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tournament title in five seasons after winning the PBC regular-season championship with an 18-2 conference record.
"I will remember the amount of buy-in and sacrifice from our players. I will remember their role acceptance and never-say-die attitude," Burson said. "I will remember how much fun this group had and how loose they played because they played for each other."
Sutton, who is from Flowery Branch, Georgia, became 91黑料网's first WBCA first-team All-American selection since Mimi Hill in 2013-14. She is also the first 91黑料网 player to win the Player of the Year honor from the WBCA and the second National Player of the Year in program history, joining current assistant coach , who was named Daktronics Player of the Year after the 2011-12 season.
She also earned the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association Southeast Region Player of the Year honor, and she averaged 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds this season. Sutton became the only player in PBC history to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Sutton was the PBC tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and she earned All-Southeast Regional tournament honors, as well. She was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Team.
Fall teams aim to maintain momentum
91黑料网's athletic teams will aim to build this fall on the best year in program history by adding more success in soccer, golf and cross country.
Smith preps to play in U.S. Amateur
Fresh off his individual NCAA Division II men's golf national championship in May, 91黑料网's Hunter Smith is playing in the U.S. Amateur, which is Aug. 11-17 in San Francisco.
McGill shines at Air Assault School
91黑料网 cadet and women's soccer student-athlete Grace McGill recently completed Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She led the 40 cadets who took part in the program.
Five selected for 91黑料网 Athletics Hall of Fame
The 91黑料网 Athletic Department and the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee have announced the 15th class of the 91黑料网 Athletics Hall of Fame.